THE HERALD NEWSPAPER ? Prostate Cancer On The Rise In Africa

From,Alhaji Bashiru Zakari, Sunyani, B/A.

DR. ALEXANDER KOFI OGOTE, who is a consultant Urologist, and Head of Urology Department at the Sunyani Regional Hospital in the Brong Ahafo Region, said that prostate cancer is the commonest male cancer in Ghana. Prostate cancer forms about 41.20% of all prostatic disease. It is the most malignant killer disease in the male population in Ghana.

Before reliable data was also made available, prostate cancer was less known in Africa due to lack of research in that field. Available data now shows that Uganda and Nigeria have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in Africa.

He said in Ghana prostate cancer is detected in a very advanced stage due to lack of Voluntary Screening. This makes its difficult for curative treatment of the disease.

Since February 2009, all men at the age of 40 years and above who report to the Sunyani Regional Hospital due to symptoms of Urinary track obstruction are subjected to Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Screening.

All men with PSA of 4 and above are subjected to ten cores ultrasound guided needle biopsy.

Aim; To establish incidence of prostate cancer in Ghana
Period; From February 2009 to February 2010

Method; 102 patients with PSA of 4 ng/ml and above were biopsied under ultrasound guided machine. .Number of tissues taken= ten and above
Age range investigated 46 to 98 years.

Results;

PSA RANGE, ng/ml) No of patients No of patients , BPH No of patients, Ca prostate
4 to 9.9 26 23(88.46%) 3(11.54%)
10 to 19.9 28 18(64.29%) 10(35.71%)
20 to 49.9 28 13(46.43%) 15(53.57%)
50 to 100 13 4(30.77%) 9(69.23%)
Above 100 7 2(28.57%) 5(71.43%)
102 60 42

GLEASON SCORE of 42 patients histologically diagnosed as prostate cancer

2 to 4 Well differentiated 0 0%
5 to 7 Moderately differentiated 20 47.62%
8 to 8 Poorly differentiated 22 53.38%
42 100.00%

RELATION BETWEEN AGE AND CANCER OF THE PROSTATE OF THE 42 PATIENTS HISTOLOGICALLY DIAGNOSED AS CANCER OF THE PROSTATE (CA PROSTATE)

Age range( years) No of patients with Ca Prostate % of patients with Ca Prostate
40 to 49 2 4.76
50 to 59 6 14.29
60 to 69 9 21.43
70 t0 79 12 28.57
80 and above 13 30.95
Total 42 100.00

Conclusion
Prostate cancer is the commonest malignant tumour among the male population in Ghana.
Prostate cancer diagnosed in the male population in Ghana is mostly advanced.
Chances of men having prostate cancer increases as they grow older
All the 42 patients (100%) had histologic form of adenocarcinoma
There is the need to create more PSA screening awareness in Ghana.

Source: http://theheraldghana.com/?p=12180

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